PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsar Bomba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrei Arlovski had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Arlovski
vs
Bomba

180 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Arlovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tsar Bomba!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arlovski closes the distance and clinches.
Arlovski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bomba is trying to break free.

Arlovski manages to break the clinch.

Bomba clinches.
Nice body punch from Arlovski.

Bomba manages to pull guard.
Bomba is trying to control the position but Arlovski postures up.
Arlovski trying to control but Bomba is working from the bottom.
Bomba lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Arlovski wants to control from the top but Bomba keeps moving.
Bomba controlling the position.
Arlovski wants to control from the top but Bomba keeps moving.
Arlovski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Bomba scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Arlovski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bomba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arlovski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arlovski lands a high kick!
Bomba wants to clinch but Arlovski slips to the side

and Arlovski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Arlovski looking to pass the guard.
Arlovski is working hard here to advance position.
Arlovski is breathing heavily.
Bomba trying to control the position here.

Arlovski stands up and waves to Bomba to follow him.
Bomba throws a poor cross that misses

and Arlovski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bomba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Arlovski being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bomba is proving hard to escape from.
Arlovski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Arlovski preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bomba holds on and takes a little breather.

Bomba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Arlovski has passed into half guard!
Arlovski thows a huge punch but Bomba dodges it nicely.
Arlovski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bomba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bomba should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Bomba wants to improve his position but Arlovski is controlling well.
Arlovski scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski controlling the action here.
Arlovski wants to pass the guard but Bomba is defending well.
Arlovski wants to take a breather but Bomba is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Arlovski misses with a series of wild punches.

Bomba shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Arlovski's guard.
Arlovski working a defensive guard here.
Bomba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arlovski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bomba is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bomba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Arlovski's guard.
Bomba is pressing down on Arlovski's thigh, looking to free his foot. Arlovski is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bomba connects with a nice short shot to Arlovski's temple.
Bomba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Arlovski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Arlovski is trying to keep Bomba in close.
Arlovski wants to control but Bomba passes easily into half guard.
Arlovski gets back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arlovski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arlovski keeping full guard, as Bomba tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arlovski dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Arlovski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bomba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bomba content to stall in guard here.
Bomba working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arlovski's head.
Bomba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arlovski has momentary wrist control but Bomba slips an elbow through the middle.
Bomba looking to pass the guard.
Tsar Bomba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bomba passes Arlovski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bomba slips a nice elbow through Arlovski's hands, connecting with Arlovski's forehead.
Bomba working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bomba's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Bomba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Arlovski defends it well.
It looks like Bomba is going to stand back up.
Arlovski striking from the bottom.
Bomba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arlovski wants to control but Bomba is keeping busy.

Arlovski manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Arlovski lands a nice looking body shot.
Arlovski closes the distance and clinches up with Bomba, looking for a takedown. Arlovski pushes Bomba against the cage but Bomba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arlovski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bomba circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Arlovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bomba tries to clinch but Arlovski is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to clinch

and Bomba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bomba lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bomba passes into half guard.
Bomba keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Arlovski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Arlovski moves into full guard.
Bomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arlovski wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bomba is now in half guard.
Bomba controlling the pace.
Bomba works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski wants to control but Bomba postures up.
Bomba trying to control the position but Arlovski is working away.
A control attempt from Arlovski but he's now mounted!
Bomba unloading with bombs!
Bomba controlling from the full mount.
Arlovski wants to control but Bomba is having none of it.
Arlovski throwing hammer fists to the chest of Bomba. What's that going to do exactly?
Bomba looking to ground and pound but Arlovski is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Arlovski tries to hold on but Bomba postures up.
Arlovski can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Bomba there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Arlovski gets back to half guard.
Arlovski wants to control but Bomba is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Arlovski moves into full guard.
Arlovski looking to control.
Bomba trying to control the position from guard on top but Arlovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arlovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bomba is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bomba stands and steps away. Arlovski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bomba swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Arlovski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsar Bomba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bomba tries to keep at a distance but Arlovski has taken the fight into the clinch.

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arlovski swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bomba counters with a takedown into side control.
Arlovski gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Bomba goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Arlovski is on top in guard.
Arlovski wants to pass the guard but Bomba is keeping the position.
Bomba keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Arlovski is pushing down on Bomba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bomba is fighting to maintain full guard but Arlovski has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bomba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Arlovski's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Arlovski's back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bomba lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Arlovski hold on?!

Bomba is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Arlovski taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Bomba.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tsar Bomba!